Chapter 2: Case Closed
The drive to Bunnyburrow would take three hours at the very least even if they tried to rush there. Nick started speaking to break up the silence, "So, I was thinking of being on Gideon's show at one point. I wonder if I dodged a bullet or do I ask him still?"
"He has a show that I never knew about," Judy said. "Just how popular is it, really?"
"Probably around five million viewers. It's starting the third season."
Chief Bogo called them which was a surprise since it wasn't using the official channels. "I've learned that the Gideon is being held undergoing screening for traces of poison."
"Thanks for the update," Nick said.
"Let me know if you need backup."
"Why are you not using the official channels?" Judy asked.
"You didn't want this to be a professional visit."
Nick hung up.
Judy didn't want to involve the ZPD in this issue, but she didn't see the way to back out now. At least, it was still technically true given that Chief Bogo was doing stuff off the record. Despite the benefits of Nick's presence, she hoped they could avoid an encounter with her family. She did not look forward to him visiting her family, especially, during the unofficial case.
It didn't take long for Chief Bogo to call Nick again. "Just wanted to let you know that Gideon is cleared for anthrax."
"Thanks."
After another ten minutes, Chief Bogo called again, "Gideon's body does not contain cyanide."
"Instead of calling back every ten minutes, what was your favorite episode?" Nick asked.
"The one where Zack earned his tail by turning fur into something that you can write on."
"Furchment, a way to show that you really love someone. The Valentine's Day special."
"How come you never talked about this?" Judy desperately hoped that the conversation would shift to something else.
"It never came up," Nick said. After briefly addressing her, he turned his attention back to Chief Bogo. "What did you think of Starbuks?"
"Coffee bringing peace to a world that was about to fight against each other with dragons," Chief Bogo said. "Apparently, it worked. That was the first hybrid episode, wasn't it?"
"It was not. The fox presented everything."
"But the idea belonged to the deer."
"He didn't appear on set."
Judy had a hard time picturing what type of show Gideon even created. It also seemed that Nick and Chief Bogo both watched every single episode. Bunnyburrow was still far away and her patience was already wearing thin. And it had to be one of these days where Chief Bogo didn't have any real duties it seemed.
Chief Bogo delivered an update from time to time as he chatted with Nick about the show. The police weren't going to arrest Gideon since drinking the water resulted in increased aggression.
After an eternity, the hospital finally came into view. As much as Judy wanted silence, she didn't want to deprive Nick of the conversation that he was having. Judy gladly parked the cruiser and thanked the stars that Nick stopped talking with Chief Bogo.
The hospital had the motif of a sheep's head. This reminded Judy once again that they all had their roles to play in Bunnyburrow. They walked inside the building.
"We're here to see Gideon," Judy said.
"What are your names?" A sheep with multiple patches of missing wool worked at the reception desk. Their wool was sometimes used in first aid.
"Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde."
"One moment." The receptionist called a doctor, "Dr. Wooly, please check if Gideon Grey wants to see Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde."
They had to wait for Dr. Wooly to lead them inside.
"Right this way." The sheep guided them to Gideon's room. Gideon lay on a hospital bed with various devices attached to him, monitoring his vitals.
"Hi, Gideon. I'm visiting as a friend, don't mind the uniform," she said.
"What's up, Nine-tails?" Nick said.
The nickname caught her by a surprise.
"I'm here for the day," Gideon said.
"Are you feeling ill?" Judy asked.
Gideon shook his head. "The doctors think that it was a panic attack and not poison."
"That's great." Nick sounded relieved.
"I don't think so. They're planning to let me go. Lawyers pulled out all the stops, and argued for self-defense."
"You're so lucky."
"Just get out," Gideon said. "Judy, can we talk?"
Nick lowered his ears as he walked out of the room without complaint.
"Is there any way that you can arrest me?"
"Why?" Judy asked.
"I ate rabbit because I liked it."
"Come again?"
"The rabbit walked up towards us confidently. Close enough to be within striking distance when she announced that she poisoned us. I was just so angry at that point, I bit her, and because she tasted good – I swallowed. The antidote wasn't on her body."
"You defended yourself, and stuff went wrong."
"I took a bite out of her neck, Judy!" Gideon yelled. "I'm a monster."
"Foxes ate rabbits in the past, why are you surprised? It's not like you meant to do it. You defended yourself."
"What if it happens again?"
"Why would it? Apparently, the public loves you."
Gideon struck with lightning speed. He clawed her left cheek, deep enough to draw blood. "I haven't changed. Just became more of a monster."
"I don't believe you, Gideon." Judy rubbed her bloody cheek as she moved towards the door. It was the same place he scratched when they were young.
Nick decided to re-enter the room. "If you want, I'll bring you in for assaulting an officer. That's going to be two years minimum."
"I'm not pressing charges, Nick, and we're not here on duty."
"Just leave me alone," Gideon said.
As they walked out of the room, Nick kept sniffing her.
"Can I lick you?" Nick asked.
"Yes?" Judy said with surprise.
Nick started licking where Gideon scratched her.
"Excuse me, do you realize that this is a hospital?" a sheep said.
"Yes, yes I do," Nick replied as he resumed his ministrations.
Judy cried, "That stings."
"So far, so good." Nick continued licking. "How does it feel?"
"It's fine. I just wasn't expecting it. I should've been faster."
Nick sighed with relief.
They headed to the police station next to check in on the status of the current case. The drive there only took a half-hour. There was a fox head motif on top of the entrance.
A bunny worked at the reception desk. "Chief, ZPD officers are here." He sounded terrified.
There weren't many rabbit police officers, and the bulk consisted of foxes with a sprinkling of other species.
"And they still drop by unannounced. This time I didn't even get a warning," Chief Fluffypaws said. "Come along." The chief led them into her office.
"We're just here to check up on the case about Gideon." Judy studied the vixen as they moved. The vixen was wearing a pink skirt instead of the regular uniform. Her attire wasn't fit for active duty should an emergency arise. Chief Bogo didn't spend all day cowering behind the desk. He even took to the field in times of crisis.
The office itself had several medals of past accomplishments. There was a map with a few notes regarding current cases.
They took a seat inside.
Chief Fluffypaws said, "Gideon killed someone on live TV in self-defense. Case closed. There is no need for your expertise here." She muttered under her breath, "The sooner you leave, the better."
Judy heard that with her keen rabbit ears but she didn't react to it. "Have you investigated anything?"
"There is nothing to investigate. We all saw what happened. This is a clear case of self-defense. You can go back to Zootopia. She tried to poison him, he underestimated his strength, and there was one casualty."
"With all due respect, Ma'am, have you investigated the victim's motive?"
"She is not a victim, and we do not need to. It's plain as day, she wanted money. I trust that's everything?" Chief Fluffypaws motioned them to leave.
They walked out of the station.
"Gee, thanks for the help back there," Judy said.
"And we need their help because? They haven't done anything. Where's the nearest library?"
"That matters because?"
"The easiest way to get access to computers."
"We could just use ones inside the station."
"And have them meddle? Pass."
They headed to the library as Nick wanted. Judy quickly regretted coming here once they headed inside.
"Hi, Judy, what are you doing here?"
Her blood turned cold as heard that voice. "Hi, Diza, we're working." She ruffled her younger sibling's head.
"Okay." Her sibling walked away.
It didn't take them long to find the video that Nick wanted to watch. Judy still felt ridiculous that they were looking up vital information in a public library off of Zoogle. A few clicks later, they were watching, "Earn Your Tail Season 3 Behind the Scenes – The Rite of Succession." The episode featured the attack on camera.
Judy screamed, unprepared for how sudden it was. Just like that, someone lost their life. Gideon's mouth was all bloody from the bite. He salivated as he licked his lips clean.
"It's not even that scary," Diza shouted. "I've seen worse in movies."
Apparently, she was watching them all along.
"Don't you have things to do?" Judy took off her headphones to address her sibling.
"Shh, this is a library," a nearby rabbit said.
The noise they made attracted more mammals.
"Arrest Mina, she stole my pencil," a jaguar said.
"You stole my calculator."
"You're hiding it inside your wool."
"Am not."
"Are you hiding the pencil inside your wool?" Judy asked.
Mina reached inside her wool for the pencil. "Happy?" she tossed it across the room and ran away.
"What have I told you about shouting in a library?" a sheep said.
"Sorry, Ms. Fleeceworth," Diza said.
"Have you found the books?"
Diza shook her head. "I've been spying on my sister. She's up to something."
"I'm sorry for the interruption, officers." The sheep started chasing after Mina shortly.
When Judy turned her focus back to the screen, Nick was busy looking up public information about the company Aquazest. The company sure claimed that the product worked as described.
"Let's get out of here," Nick said.
Judy followed her partner's lead even though she didn't learn much by visiting here.
"We should visit either the company or Harley Brackenfield's residence. The crime scene is sure to be picked free of evidence by now. Not that it had much anyway."